West Africa, Cameroon, Grasslands, Bamum or Bamileke, ca. late 19th to mid-20th century CE. A fine trio of pottery smoking pipe heads comprised of conical, hollow pieces, fused at the tips with a reinforcement piece bridging the V-shaped gap. Each pipe has a relief face on the front of the receptacle bowl, the other half of the pipe is the socket for a wooden stem and mouthpiece. The pursed lips, puffed cheeks, and bulging eyes on each figure emulates a smoker inhaling and exhaling, their chins are decorated with carved patterns symbolizing scars or tattoos. Each pipe is molded from clay, fired, then glazed deep black using vegetable sap and soot. Smoking tobacco was customary in Cameroon, both men and women carried pipes and tobacco to use throughout the day. The caps these men wear are markers of prestige and are worn by aristocracy. Rulers would smoke ornate pipes such as these to stay awake during tedious court sessions and affairs. Size of largest: 4.25" L x 4" W (10.8 cm x 10.2 cm); smallest: 3.25" L x 3.35" W (8.3 cm x 8.5 cm)

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex private American collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#168203

The two larger pipes have chips to the rims, and one has stable pressure fissures. The smallest pipe is intact and excellent. Some fading of black pigments and minor surface wear on all. Traces of mineral and tobacco residue inside each from use.